Sampras Draws Srichaphan at Seniors Tennis in China

Pete Sampras has been drawn into the same round-robin group as ATP Champions Tour debutante Paradorn Srichaphan ahead of the Chengdu Open in China, which starts on Thursday. Sampras will be making his first trip to China and has never previously played against Srichaphan.

He will also face the 1987 Wimbledon champion Pat Cash and French left-hander Guy Forget in the group stages. Sampras opens against Cash on Thursday, with two Grand Slam finals of the past replayed as well on the opening day -- Thomas Enqvist vs. Yevgeny Kafelnikov (Australian Open 1999) and Pat Rafter vs. Greg Rusedski (US Open 1997).

In Group B, former World No. 1's Kafelnikov and Rafter will take on Rusedski (a late replacement for the injured Michael Stich) and the current No. 1 player in the South African Airways ATP Champions Tour Rankings in Enqvist.

"The competition is exciting with this level of tennis," Sampras said. "We're still very competitive and I think we're all looking forward to it. Enqvist is still very fit and he is a little bit younger than the rest of us. He is very strong and I've played him a few times in my career and he plays very well, and hits the ball well. Srichaphan has just retired so he is going to be very tough. I'm really looking forward to it."

Enqvist, with a 25-1 win-loss record since joining the ATP Champions Tour, is relishing the opportunity to defend his Chengdu title, especially against one of the game's all-time greats.

"I am really looking forward to coming back to Chengdu and trying to defend my title," he said. "I had a fantastic time there last year and I'm looking forward to playing Pete Sampras because he's such a great player. I hope I get to see the giant pandas again as well!"

Matches will be played over the best of three sets, with a first-to-ten-point Champions Tie-Break played if the scoreline is tied at one set all. The top two players in each group will meet in Sunday's final.